USB issue with Sony Bravia TV

Hello everyone

While browsing forums and user reviews, I've noticed that many owners of the Sony Bravia 40EX501 or 40EX500 (they're the same except for the casing) are facing playback issues with movies through the TV's USB port.

I'm just a novice, but after extensive research and encoding with various software, I want to share my results since I can now play all videos on my Sony 40EX501 television. I also mention that what follows may potentially interest other Sony models.

1/ The external source:
First of all, the USB stick or external hard drive must be formatted to FAT32, which is the only format recognized by the EX500 and EX501 televisions.
For my part, I've created an external drive using an 80 GB laptop hard drive that I power with a USB hub.
It is crucial not to exceed 4 GB after encoding the video; otherwise, you won't be able to copy it to your USB stick or hard drive in FAT32. I make sure it weighs between 3.5 and 4 GB, which works perfectly for me (See below).

2/ The original video:
It can be helpful to know the size of the video and the bitrate used via software such as GSPOT (for those who are familiar).

3/ Encoding:
For this, I use the software XILISOFT VIDEO CONVERTER ULTIMATE with the following steps:

A / Add the original video (button at the top left) and it will become visible in the main window of the software with important information about the final size after encoding (indications between profile and status).

B / In the profile (at the bottom), click on the triangle and choose HD VIDEO (left column) and VIDEO HD H264 (*.MP4) (in the right column)

C / In the right part above the preview screen, specify the size of the video (960X540 or 1280X720), the lowest video quality (yes, the lowest; otherwise, the video will exceed 4 GB) and the highest audio quality.

D / In the destination (at the bottom), indicate where the software should save the encoded video.

E / Now click on convert checked items (red circle) at the top of the window.

That's it, let's go. You will need to wait about 2 hours (depending on your computer's power).

You will obtain a video in .MP4 format that will not exceed 4 GB.
You just need to copy it to a USB stick or your external hard drive and watch it on your Sony via the USB port.

In the end, by following this guide to the letter, with an original video of about 800 MB to 1 GB, you will obtain a re-encoded video weighing between 3 and 4 GB (I remind you that 4 GB is the weight limit for FAT32).

Although XILISOFT VIDEO CONVERTER ULTIMATE will cost you about €45, at least you will be able to enjoy your films via the USB port.

Before buying, I recommend downloading the free trial version to ensure that this method works for you.

You can also look into free programs like SUPER, but the final result is less pretty.

I hope my experience helps as many users as possible.
lcm